The orthopedic team defines the recovery plan. The family's job is to make ordinary life work around that plan: meals, dressing, bathroom routines, home access, transportation and coverage gaps.
START WITH THE DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS. Keep restrictions, equipment, therapy, medication and follow-up exactly as the treating team directs.
USE NORTHLAND HOSPITAL AND REHAB ACCESS. Saint Luke's North and NKC Health provide local clinical and rehabilitation infrastructure.
MAP THE FIRST WEEK BY ROUTINE. List getting up, dressing, meals, bathroom needs, stairs, appointments and time alone.
KEEP THERAPY SEPARATE. Non-medical support must not substitute for physical or occupational therapy.
ASK EXACTLY ABOUT TRANSFERS. Provider capability depends on the specific transfer, equipment, training and policy.
MEDICATION TASKS ALSO REQUIRE PRECISION. Reminder, assistance and administration are different and should be verified.
PLAN RIDES BEFORE DISCHARGE. Family, community or provider transportation should be assigned in advance.
ESCALATE CLINICAL CHANGES. Pain, wound concerns, weakness or other new symptoms belong with the treating team or emergency services as appropriate.
Can home care replace PT? No. Can a caregiver perform transfers? Only if verified. Can they manage medication? Do not assume so. What should be planned first? Home routine, transportation and the clinical follow-up schedule.
BUILD THE FIRST WEEK AROUND THE DISCHARGE PLAN. [OPERATING CTA PLACEHOLDER — activate after task/transfer/medication/start-time policies are approved.]
Post-Hospital; Care After Fall; Personal Care; Transportation.
Saint Luke's North; NKC Health; Medicare home-health guidance.
Transfer/mobility; medication; task scope; start timing; CTA.
No rehab prescription, medication advice or transfer promise.
Transfer policy | Medication policy | Task scope | Start timing
Primary care inquiry phone | Care inquiry form | Availability
Run structural QA; keep final claims blocked.
PASS — EVIDENCE COMPLETE → BRIEF → DRAFT
BRAND SYSTEM V1.4
BUILD REQUIRED
PROBLEM GUIDE — SITUATION/RELIEF
Draft may remain for research/editorial work, but final publish is blocked by Brand System decisions.
HOLD — BRAND GATE
Build the household plan around the clinical plan.
Confirm instructions, follow-up, mobility limits and who owns each clinical question.
Cover meals, errands, safe routines, transportation and the gaps family cannot reliably fill.
Change household support as recovery milestones and clinical instructions change.